Control parameter using type name

[PrathapSekar]

Hi Masters!!!

           Can we control a parameter with type name of the family? If so, please advise me how acquire that. Thanks.

[Alfredo_Medina]

Please provide an example of what you want to do. It's not clear enough.

[PrathapSekar]

Thank you for your reply @Alfredo_Medina,

I have a family with six types,

1. 01- Type A,
2. 01- Type AB, 
3. 02- Type A, 
4. 02- Type AB,
5. 03- Type A,
6. 03- Type AB.

here I want to control a extension of a extrusion, i.e. For the types "A" it should be 100, and for types "AB" it should be 150. I can enter value regards to types, but I don't want others to change the value manually. So I need a formula to control the values according to the type name. If it isn't too clear please let me know.

[PrathapSekar]

Also kindly note that, I don't want to add additional parameters to control this values.

[nathan.chapman]

The bad news is  types can't be used to drive other parameters so the only other solution i could think of is have something like a yes/no parameter that drives your length.  One a formula is driving something it locks users out from changing.  They would have to edit the family and change the length value in the formula or delete the formula all together to change the value.  I know you stated you dont want to add parameters but that is the only way to accomplish what you are trying to do.

[chrisplyler]

In the family editor, you define each family Type, and you set the default values of their Type Parameters.

So make the parameter you want controlled by the family Type as a Type Parameter, set the default value for each family Type, and checkmark the option for each of those values to be Locked.

So now Type A can have the extrusion length be 100, and Type AB can have the extrusion length be 150, etc.

The length parameter isn't "Driven" by the Type's name, but it is defined within the Type by you.

[nathan.chapman]

I forgot about the lock option.  Good catch Chrisplyler!

[Alfredo_Medina]

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@PrathapSekar wrote:

... For the types "A" it should be 100, and for types "AB" it should be 150. I can enter value regards to types, but I don't want others to change the value manually. So I need a formula to control the values according to the type name. If it isn't too clear please let me know.

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What I do is this: if a parameter is not supposed to be editable by the final user, I make that parameter equal to a formula, and I move the parameter out of the "Dimensions" group, and I put it into the "Constraint" group.